Clasp for books and portfolios.



H. B. NISSLY. CLASP FOR BOOKS AND PORTFOLIOS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1905.

- ZEMflQ EJZMZ z PATENTED JULY 24, 1906.

I Eva/2222? UNITED imam OFFICE.

TIC) LASPJ F'fiRiiBO-G KS A' ND FPQRTF OILIOS I-=': Spe'eification of Letters Patent.

' Eatented J uly 24,1906.

;Application filddsjfloptembar '15 {.190 5.: ..Seria1.Nd. 2178.6 85.

. To. (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1",HERSHEY1B. NIssLr, a

citizen of'the United States, residing at Olinton, inthe countybf Clinton and State of Clasps forZBooksv and 'Piortfm is aspecifica't-ion. I'This' invention relates .to. a: clasp; particularlyflad apted .for .uselinw connection ,with

smiall. pass-books, bank-books, pocket memo- ,randa-books, and. otherb ooks 1 .or portfolios;

and the objectthereofis to-provide a clasp. in

- a. manner as, hereinafter. more ,spe'cificallyre Lferred to, for keeping :the book or portfolio closed when occasion .so. requiresiandhalso to preventlthe falling orslipping .outfrom. the book or portfolio of any papers or .oheckscarzried therein.

'flheiinvention'further Yaimsrto provide a clasp for books or portfolioswhich 'shallbe simple inits construction, zstrongpdur'able,

efficient in its use, conveniently operated, readily, attached ,to arbook or portfolio, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoingiand other objects in view the invention consists of the. novelconstruction, c.ornbination,.and arrangement of parts hereinafter more spe'cifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifica-v tions can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout both views, and in which- Figure 1 is a view showing a clasp in accordance with this invention, the clasp being in its inoperative position, and also showing the manner of connecting the clasp in posi tion; and Fig. 2 is a view showing the clasp in its operative position for securely closing the book.

By way of example the clasp is illustrated in connection with a small pass-book; but it is to be understood that the clasp is adapted for use for any purposes wherein it is found ap licable.

eferring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes a book having slidably connected to the inner face of one cover thereof (as shown, the r-ear cover) :through ithemedium of thekretainingv means 2 a clasp in acco'rdancewith.thisinvention. Saidre- .tai ning means is shown, byway of example,

as. a'sheet of suitable. material, such as paper or fabric, said sheet.being secured to the in- ,nerlface-of the cover byoan adhesive substance and provided with apair offslits Szat the inner portionthereof, said-slits 3 being suitably ,spaced apart, extending ,approxi matelythrough half offthesheet, so :thatithat .portion ofthe sheet at the, outer :end of-the ;slits 3 will formtheabutments 4,-said -abut mentsconstituting a means to arrest the outward: movement of the clasp.

.A .clasp in accordance withthis invention .is preferablyformed of asingleapiece ofwire or otherequivalent material. As shown,.the clasp iSzfOI'IIlGdfIOIIl. a singlepiece-of mate- -Eri'al, prefer'ably stout wire, and comprises a pair of flslidable side members 5, having the inner portion'thereof bent at an angle, so as to form the stop-arms 6, which. are adapted to en age the; abutment 4zwhenthe .clasp is outwardly. The engagement ofthe stop-arms. Gwith the abutment 41 limits the outward movement-ofthe clasp. Theside ,members. 5 have the outer ends thereofbent upon'themsel-ves, so as to form'the clamps 7.

, One portion of each of the clamps 7 is adapted to engage over the outer face of the other cover of the book, so as to clamp the two covers together, thereby securely closing the book. The clamps 7 are connected together by a horizontally-extending member 8, having angular ends 9, which terminate in the clamps 7. Said member 8 constitutes a spring-bar adapted to bear against the cover of the book in a manner as shown, thereby materially assisting in keeping the book securely closed.

When using the clasp, (it will be assumed that the position of the clasp is that as shown in Fig. 1, the clasp being pulled outwardly,) the book is closed and the clasp is then moved inwardly, so that the clamps 7, as well as the member 8, will engage the cover of the book, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby securely retaining the book in a closed position. To allow the book to be opened, the clasp is pulled outward to the position shown in Fig. 1, and access can be had to the interior of the book, or any papers carried by the book can be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A slidable clasp for the purpose set forth, comprising a pair of slidable side members each having laterally-extending stops at one end and the other ends bent to form clamps having one portion thereof adapted to directly engage the object to be clamped, and a spring connecting-bar betweenthe clamps, said bar having angularly-disposed end portions terminating in the clamps.

2. A slidable clasp for the urpose set forth, comprising a pair of slidab e side members having angular inner ends to constitute stops and their outer ends bent in substantially a hooked-shaped manner to form clam s, and a spring-bar interposed between the cfamps and having angular ends terminating in one end of the clamps.

- 3'. A slidable clasp for the purpose set forth comprising the combination with a retaining means provided with a pair of stationary abutments, of a pair of slidable side members retained in position by said means and r0-.

vlded with stops adapted to engage said a i utments to arrest the movement of said members, said side members having their outer ends bent toward their inner ends to form clamps adapted to directly engage the object to be secured, and a spring-bar interposed between and suitably connected with the clamps.

4. A clasp for the purpose described, comprising the combination with a retaining means adapted to be secured to one face of the object to be clamped, said means provided with a pair of stationary abutments, of a pair of side. members interposed between said means and that face of the object to which said means is secured, said members provided with stops adapted to engage said abutments so that the movement of the members will be limited in one direction, said side members having their outer ends bent toward their inner ends formingthereby a pair of clamps adapted to directly enga e the object for securing it, and a springar interposed between and connected with the clamps and adapted to bear against another face of the object, thereby securing it when the clasp is moved to o 'erative position.

5. A clasp or the purpose described, comprising the combination with a retaining means ada ted to be secured to one face of the object to ffe clamped, said means provided with a pair of slits to form abutments, of a pair of side members interposed between said means and that face of the object to which said means is secured and provided with stops adapted to engage said abutments to limit the movement in one direction of the said side members, said side members having their outer ends bent toward their inner ends forming thereby a pair of clamps adapted to directly engage the object for retaining it closed, and a spring-bar interposed between and connected with the clamp and adapted to bear against another face of the object when the clasp is moved to operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERSHEY B. NISSLY. Witnesses:

HARRY ALBERT GABRIEL, G. W. OHRrsrY. 

